prison
PRIHZN
Prison (noun) means a secure institution where people are held, usually as punishment after being convicted of a serious crime, or while awaiting trial. Example: “The prison has high walls and guards who check everyone entering the gate.”
noun
1
A secure institution where people are held, usually as punishment after being convicted of a serious crime, or while awaiting trial.
"The prison has high walls and guards who check everyone entering the gate."
"He was sent to prison for armed robbery."
"The new facility can hold over a thousand prisoners."
2
Any situation or place that feels confining or inescapable, even without literal bars.
"Stuck in a job she hated, she felt trapped in a prison of routine."
"Their tiny flat became a prison during the long weeks of rain."
"For her, the small town felt like a prison."
How to use prison
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA locked institution for holding people convicted of crimes — or, more loosely, anything that traps or confines someone.
Common pairings
sent to prison
prison sentence
break out of prison
life in prison
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Word forms
- Plural
- prisons
- Third person singular
- prisons
- Past tense
- prisoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ has high walls and guards who check everyone entering the gate.
Etymology
From Old French prison, ultimately from Latin prehensio, "a seizing" — the same root that gives us "prehension" (grasping).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for prison
See all rhymes for prison →Frequently asked questions
What does “prison” mean?
The word “prison” means a secure institution where people are held, usually as punishment after being convicted of a serious crime, or while awaiting trial. In plain terms, a locked institution for holding people convicted of crimes — or, more loosely, anything that traps or confines someone.
How do you pronounce “prison”?
“Prison” is pronounced PRIHZN (/ˈpɹɪzn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “prison” in a sentence?
Here is “prison” used in a sentence: “He was sent to prison for armed robbery.”
What part of speech is “prison”?
“Prison” is a noun.
Where does the word “prison” come from?
The word “prison” comes from Latin. From Old French prison, ultimately from Latin prehensio, "a seizing" — the same root that gives us "prehension" (grasping).
Is “prison” a common word?
“Prison” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “prison” have?
“Prison” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a secure institution where people are held, usually as punishment after being convicted of a serious crime, or while awaiting trial.
What is the difference between a prison and a jail?
A jail typically holds people for short periods, such as those awaiting trial or serving brief sentences, and is often run locally. A prison holds people serving longer sentences after conviction for serious crimes, usually under state or national authority. The distinction is clearest in American usage; elsewhere the terms overlap.
What is the purpose of prison?
Prisons serve several aims: punishing serious offences, protecting the public by removing dangerous individuals, deterring crime, and ideally rehabilitating people so they can reintegrate afterwards. The balance between punishment and rehabilitation varies widely between countries and remains one of the most debated questions in criminal justice.
What is the difference between being in prison and being detained?
Prison usually means confinement as punishment following a criminal conviction. Detention is broader, covering anyone held against their will, including people awaiting trial, immigration cases, or those not yet charged. All prisoners are detained, but not everyone detained is in prison serving a sentence for a crime.
What is an example of a prison?
Facilities range from low-security open prisons, where inmates have relative freedom, to maximum-security institutions holding the most serious offenders. Famous examples include Alcatraz, now closed, and Britain's HM Prison network. Whatever the security level, each is a secure institution designed to hold convicted or awaiting-trial individuals.
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